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March 18, 2023The older I get and the more I study spirituality, the more I am convinced that no one is born spiritually blind. Children have the most wonder spirituality. They are totally open to hearing about God and Jesus and have wonderfully deep insights when asked about them. When our boys were younger, we participated in or parish’s Children’s Liturgy of The Word during mass. As ministers of this powerful program, we heard untold numbers of stories and insights from the children. And these were 3 and 4 year olds! So many times, our mouths would drop open at the comments of the kids. Their knowledge and understanding of God was real and deep. They could clearly see the love of God.
But then something happens. These cute little kids grow up. They become know-it-all teenagers and young adults. They begin to question and doubt, which is normal. But slowly, the eyesight begins to fail. They can no longer see God at work in their world (even though God most assuredly is!). They continue to age and some even begin to mature. Those who mature, very often start to regain some of their vison.
Many times, it has taken a God-slap for me to clear my vision. You know what a God-slap is, don’t you? There I am, minding my own business, when WAP – all of a sudden I’m looking at someone or something that was right in front of me and I had never really seen it before. Working at a soup kitchen can do that – WAP! Walking to a hockey game at the old Joe Louis Arena could do that – WAP! Walking in any major city will do that – WAP! And walking in thru a large department store will do that – WAP! All of sudden, I can see much more clearly that I did just a moment before.
Unlike the man in today’s Gospel, I don’t wonder who it was who helped me see. I know it was Jesus. I have experienced these moments enough times that I know not to question them. I simply say “thank you Lord”, and get to work. Maybe it’s opening my wallet. Maybe it’s lending a hand. Maybe it’s just listening. But when I can see clearly, I know there is the Lord’s work to be done.
In my life, I have never been cross examined by any Pharisee types about why I do what I do. There’s a part of me that wishes I would. I’d love to tell the sceptics that it is God who helps me see and helps me do what needs to be done. But it really doesn’t matter what the sceptics think. I can only hope that those I encounter – those whom I truly see – will know and feel the power of the love and mercy of God through me.
Every Day.
